Mr. Kim came to Canada; he had dreams; did he realize them?
(지난 호에 이어)
Korea is expected to play a major role in the process of the creation of the East Asia Economic Community. Korea is a unique middle power nation in the region; it can play a key role of intermediation in trade, political and cultural areas.
However, unless Korea meets the international moral standard, it cannot play this role. In this context, if you are a real patriot, you should criticize the corruption culture and do something to correct it.
True, there are a great number of people who are victims of the corruption of the government and they express their concerns. But, they are not North Korean spies; they want a better country.
It is quite possible that among them there are spies sent by North Korea, sympathizers with North Korea, but the most of them are real patriots who would like to do something for the welfare of the ordinary people.
Kim Inspired his children to love Korea
Kim knew that the children of immigrant parents in Montreal have the tendency to regard Korea as corrupted society. True, they like Han-Ryu (the wave of Korean youth culture including K-pop, Kangnam Style,), but in general, they are not very proud of the Korean culture and they do not love Korea.
Kim thought that this was a real problem, because to survive in multicultural and multiethnic society like Canada, one has to have robust identity of which one must be proud. For a visible minority group, one has double identity: ethnic identity and cultural identity. It means this.
Kim organized a seminar in the name of the Montreal Korean Association. And he made some comments
"Suppose you are culturally well integrated; you talk like Quebecers; you eat like them; you play like them; you think like them.
But you are eternally Korean as far as native Quebecers are concerned. Therefore, you must be sure of identity and proud of your double identity."
Kim remembered the presentation by a Canadian professor Hong of Korean origin. Kim remembered two messages of the professor.
First, the corruption culture is a part of Korea. But Korea has something to offer for the regional security and prosperity.
Second, immigrants' Korean youth can be proud of both the philosophical and the spiritual legacy and the Korea’s historical role in coming years.
Professor Hong used to speak of "Koreaness" a term not familiar. Kim asked him to explain its meaning. The professor explained.
Kim remembered the professor's answer:
“For me, koreanness means feeling proud of spiritual and cultural legacy, being aware of the corruption of the leaders but the desire to fight against corruption, the desire to improve the Korean society. I am proud of Daoism which gave me the respect for the nature; I am proud of Buddhism which gave me the tendency to find my inner self; I am proud of Confucianism which gave the passion for learning things”.
"Dad, I am glad that I came to this conference. For me, it is eye-opening experience." confessed Paul.
Kim thought that he did his best to convince the Korea youth living in Quebec to live "koreanness".
Mr. Kim has returned to Korea
The plane left the East Sea and Kim could see the ranges of mountains along the east coastline. Thus the plane was ending its voyage. Kim thought that his life voyage was also about to end.
Kim was looking at Sookja with closed eyes.
“Yobo, I see the Korean mountains below” shouted Kim.
Sokja opened her eyes and started to look down eagerly and said:“ Paul's Appa, I think that the Korea mountains with their birds, trees, flowers, winds, clouds above, the brooks are like the loving arms of mother. During all my life, I missed so much these mountains”.
“Yes, Nancy’s mother, me too!” said Kim.
“I do appreciate Canada and Quebec; Canadians and Quebecers were kind to us. Quebec is our second home; our kids studied, found spouses and have highly paying jobs there. You see Nancy’s mother, I am grateful to Canada and Quebec” said Kim with satisfaction.
“Yet, after all these years, I realize that I am still deeply attached to something. Is it Korea? Is it Korean people? Is it Korean natural or social environment in which I was brought up? It may be that I am attached to all of these.
But, there is something else more important. I think that it is the memory of what I was before I became adult; it is the memory of my childhood carelessness, the memory of my teenage dreams and crazy parties, the memory of romantic feeling about the world. It was my universe I build and cherished. That is it! I miss my pre-adulthood universe.” Kim was trying to convince himself.
Kim found out that his pre-adulthood universe was like a harbor to which the sailor returns.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we will land in the International Airport in twenty minutes. We thank you for having chosen Korea Air. We wish you happy stay in Korea” announced the captains.
When the plane landed gently in the International Airport, Kim had the feeling that his long life voyage ended and came back to his life harbor, where he could find peace and enjoy his pre-adulthood dreams and romantic ambitions.
He thanked God and said “Amen!” (끝)
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